Tidbits: Revival’s Gillespie is a James Beard Award finalist

Kevin Gillespie sits down for an interview with Decaturish. Photo by Jonathan Phillips

In food news this week…

Kevin Gillespie, owner of Revival in Decatur, is a finalist for a James Beard Award. Gillespie was previously announced as a semifinalist for “Best Chef: Southeast” for his restaurant Gunshow. Another Atlanta chef, Steven Satterfield, is also a finalist in that category for Miller Union. Atlanta restaurant Staplehouse is nominated for “Best New Restaurant.” The winners will be announced May 2.

Decatur’s Arepa Mia is undergoing an expansion. The Venezuelan restaurant at 307 E College Ave. said in a Facebook message that the expansion is under way and will be ready this spring. It noted, “We still have to pass all inspections for our location.” It posted photos of construction, including a new bar. The expansion is happening between the current Arepa Mia and the forthcoming Ebrik Coffee Room, also under construction.

Arepa Mia in Decatur is expanding. Photo from www.facebook.com/arepamia

Food halls are all the rage right now, and Ponce City Market was featured as an example in a CBS report recently. Reporter Jamie Wax explored how food halls have moved beyond the mall food court model. Wax interviewed Atlanta-based Simply Seoul owner Hannah Chung about the experience of running a restaurant in Ponce City Market. You can see the entire story below.